Alzheimer Scotland

22 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh
EH3 7RN

Helpline: 0808 808 3000
Tel: 0131 243 1453
Fax: 0131 243 1450
Web: www.alzscot.org
Best time to telephone: Helpline: 24 hours; Office: normal working hours.

More than half of people with dementia live at home, either alone or with family or friends who care for them. Caring can be a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week task and is often emotionally, physically and financially draining.

Alzheimer Scotland is a charity working throughout Scotland to help people with dementia, their carers and families. Members are individual carers, social workers, careworkers, healthworkers, community groups and organisations interested in dementia.

The organisation has the following aims: to be the national voice of people with dementia and their carers; to improve public policies for people with dementia and their carers; to provide and secure the provision of high quality services both for people with dementia and for their carers.

The organisation is involved in the following activities: practical services throughout Scotland such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care, befriending and carers support services; 24-hour Dementia Helpline; supporting a network of over 40 carers support groups; information for people with dementia, their carers and professionals; and publishing leaflets, booklets and reports and a quarterly newsletter. Examples of publications include the following:

• What is dementia?
• Getting help - caring for someone with dementia
• Getting help from your doctor - a guide for carers and people worried about dementia
• Dementia: money and legal matters - a guide
• A positive choice - choosing long-stay care for a person with dementia
• Understanding challenging behaviour
• Drugs during dementia
• Community care - a guide for carers of people with dementia.

The organisation can also supply publications from other organisations and reports. Contact the address above or visit their website as many publications are available in full text.